The phrasal verb "hang up on" is primarily used in informal speech and appears frequently in everyday conversational contexts. It refers to the act of abruptly ending a phone call, usually as a sign of annoyance, anger, or the intent to dismiss the caller without further discussion. This expression is often used when someone wishes to describe a situation where they felt slighted or abruptly cut off during a conversation. While "hang up on" is not typically seen in formal writing, it might occasionally appear in narrative or dialogue form within novels, scripts, or other forms of creative writing to convey character dynamics and emotions. The casual and somewhat dismissive connotation of "hang up on" reflects modern communication scenarios and can be relevant in discussions about etiquette, customer service experiences, or relational conflicts.
B2
UpperIntermediate
1. To abruptly end a phone call by hanging up the receiver or pressing the end call button, often perceived as rude or due to frustration.
She was so angry that she decided to hang up on him in the middle of the conversation.
If you continue to shout, I'll have no choice but to hang up on you.
He didn't like what he heard, so he just hung up on the caller.